Don't Follow the Crowd This Spring Break

WASHINGTON, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Pinpointing the perfect destination for Spring Break just got easier, thanks to Away.com (www.away.com). Today the travel-planning Web site announced the ultimate Spring Break destinations based on lifestyle and interests, in which Travel Specialists provide their top picks for the best destinations for families, deal seekers, adventure travelers, beach lovers, couples, outdoor junkies and spring skiers.

The Travel Specialists at Away.com, a team of experienced staff editors, writers and photographers specializing in distinct travel topics and destinations, put their expertise to work to provide consumers with the best vacation ideas for Spring Break 2010. Based on their experiences around the world, these globetrotters have selected their favorite spots in each of their specialty areas in hopes of giving vacationers a bit of travel inspiration this spring.

"Spring Break is not a time when one destination fits all. Travelers who select a destination based on their lifestyle and interests -- and not on the most popular travel spots -- are definitely going to have a more memorable and enjoyable vacation," said Eric Brodnax General Manager of The Away Network. "Our Travel Specialists have drawn on their expertise to recommend some frequently overlooked gems for spring break vacations."

AWAY.COM TOP SPRING BREAK DESTINATIONS BASED ON LIFESTYLE

The OC's six beach towns serve up a mix of SoCal styles along 42 miles of beachfront, from upscale Laguna Beach and Newport Beach to surf hangouts like Dana Point and Huntington Beach (home of the International Surfing Museum). This spring, go whale-watching from Dana Point to see migrating gray whales, sea kayak round Newport Harbor or take a ferry over to Catalina Island. If you want to do the theme-park thing, you've got Disneyland in addition to Legoland and San Diego Wild Animal Park an hour-plus drive to the south. There's plenty here to keep kids of any age—even teenagers—busy.

People say that Costa Rica is not a hidden gem anymore. But one visit to Puerto Viejo, on the country's stunning Caribbean coast, and you'll rethink that notion. This relatively small beach community offers a surprising amount of diversity in beaches, lodging options, and dining and bar scenes. Stay right in town, where affordable hostels and guest houses abound, and the hopping nightlife has a decidedly Jamaican vibe. Or head down the coast a few miles to Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva or Manzanillo, where quiet respite and amazing beaches await. Lodging and restaurants take a step up here, but they are still budget friendly. Plus, even during the height of spring break, the crowds are at a minimum. Think of Puerto Viejo as a Caribbean spring break for a fraction of the cost.

Spring is definitely for lovers. And, everyone knows about Cancun, Cozumel and Tulum. But the Riviera Maya's romance has so much more than just cruise-ship culture and Mayan handicraft. The port of Playa Del Carmen features loads of fine dining, boutique hotels, and yes, swanky nightlife spots where you can have drinks, dance, and people-watch with your special someone. During the days, you'll lounge on some of the best beaches anywhere in the Caribbean and explore underground, underwater caves called cenotes. It's no wonder the Riviera Maya is an increasingly popular spot for destination weddings.

A short flight from any snowed-covered East Coast city, the warm soft beaches and gentle Caribbean Sea waves of the Dominican Republic's north coast are perfect for budget-minded travelers. While many resorts in the DR are all-inclusive and designed to keep you poolside, Cabarete is a refreshingly real place. During the days, you can learn to kiteboard on Kite Beach, go surfing, hang out at the beach, explore nearby Puerto Plata, or go hiking or caving in El Choco National Park. April is shoulder season, so hotel rates are lower than they are in the winter. Good restaurants and beachside clubs give the nightlife a laissez-faire Southern California vibe, but with so many ex-pat kiteboarders hanging around town, expect a healthy dose of late-night carousing. For those looking for a quieter adventure, the peninsula of Samana to the east is a still-as-yet undiscovered gem with waterfalls, pirate coves, and independent hotels that give you an authentic island experience.

It has as much wow factor as the Grand Canyon with one fifth the people, and is far enough south to be comparatively warm (daytime high temperatures average in the 60s in April). Red rock cliffs, dramatic sunsets over the high desert, and Anasazi cliff dwellings make for a Spring Break experience far removed from crowded beaches and partying co-eds. The best way to do this trip is to fly into Albuquerque and then drive through Canyon de Chelly en route to Phoenix. Along the way you can stop in other top scenic areas, including Petrified Forest, Painted Desert, and perhaps Sedona.

Those in the mid-Atlantic can finally rejoice. West Virginia's Snowshoe Resort is having a banner, record-breaking season, with over 192 inches and counting. They've even extended the season into early April. With all 60 runs open, including 1,500-vertical-foot Western Territories, there's plenty of turns to be had. The reverse-style resort—the village sits at the top of the mountain, rather than the bottom—offers a fun spin on the traditional resort scene. Better still, kids stay free throughout March, and lodge-and-lift-ticket packages start at $138. Elsewhere, the spring-skiing gold standards of Salt Lake City and Lake Tahoe still reign supreme, with ample snow, spring concert series, and all kinds of good deals generated by having so many competing resorts in the same place.

To "meet" each of the Away.com Travel Specialists and read more about their Spring Break picks, visit away.com/travelspecialists.

About Away.com

Away.com (http://away.com) is a part of The Away Network and is the leading online destination for travelers planning their next vacation. Trip planners will find over two million pages of travel inspiration, trip ideas, travel planning tools and destination content for over 35,000 global locations. Founded in 1999, Away.com provides a distinctive blend of expert and consumer advice. The Away Network also includes Trip.com (http://trip.com), GORP.com (http://gorp.com/), GORPtravel.com (http://gorptravel.com), Outside Online (http://outsideonline.com) and Lodging.com (http://lodging.com). The Away Network is owned by Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE: OWW).

Become a fan of Away.com on Facebook at facebook.com/awaydotcom or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/awayblog.

SOURCE Away.com